Chapter 10
Ten
T he day before Christmas Eve, the morning of the adoption event, Norah and Paddy skipped their morning walk on the beach to meet Matt at the shelter just as the orange fingers of dawn crept across the horizon.
Norah spent a restless night tossing, turning, and thinking. Oh, so much thinking about Matt and the possibility of a future with him. A future she’d never dared imagine before.
“We’re the first to arrive,” she told Paddy as she parked the SUV, but no sooner did the words tumble from her mouth than Matt pulled up beside her.
Automatically, her fingers went to her lips as she recalled the kiss he’d given her the night before. She flung open the door and hopped out, eager to see him.
He left his truck just as quickly, his eyes alight, his gaze on her. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.”
They stood there for a second, just looking at each other. Paddy barked from the back seat, his doggy version of Let me outta here, guys. I want in on the fun.
“I’m glad you brought Paddy,” Matt said. “The more the merrier.”
“Couldn’t leave him by himself all day.” Norah shook her head and leashed the dog. “You were right.”
“About what?”
“Paddy is an escape artist,” she said and told him what had happened the night before.
“I’m not going to say I told you so.” Matt gave her a kind smile and stuffed his hands inside his jacket pockets. “I know he scared you.”
“That’s an understatement, for sure.”
“All’s well that ends well. Who knows? Maybe the news of our adoption event will reach Paddy’s owners, and they’ll show up looking for him.”
Norah tightened up on the leash, drawing Paddy closer to her. “That’s a hopeful thought.”
Matt’s gaze drifted from Norah down to the dog, who tilted back his head to peer up at him. “You’ve gotten attached.”
Norah sighed. “Yeah. I’ve only had him a few days. How silly is that?”
“Love has no time limit,” Matt said, and his eyes met hers again.
Her pulse thumped hard in her throat. “Matt?”
“Uh-huh.” His voice came out dreamy as the early morning sky.
“About last night…”
Matt’s face softened, and he stepped closer, his eyes filled with hope and longing. For her. “What about it?”
“I-I’ve been thinking.”
He arched one eyebrow and waited for her to continue, saying nothing.
“Maybe it’s time I stop keeping the world at arm’s length.”
“Maybe,” he echoed, his gaze locked on her.
“I’ve always been afraid of letting people in, of getting too close.” She inhaled deeply, the chilly air filling her lungs, and gathered her courage. “But I don’t want to run from you.”
“No?”
“No.”
“You don’t have to do or say anything you’re not ready for, Norah. I get it. I get you .”
I get you.
Music to her ears, mainly because he did get her in a way no one ever had.
“I’m ready.” She met his gaze and felt the tension in her chest ease. “It took me over twenty years, but I’m ready to take a chance on us.”
A slow smile spread across Matt’s face, and for a moment, the world shrunk to just the two of them as they teetered on the verge of something monumental.
She leaned in and let her eyes drift closed, hoping for another kiss that replicated the delicious smooches they’d shared the previous night, but then a car honked as Chris pulled into the parking lot.
“To be continued…” Matt murmured.
Chris climbed out of his truck, grinning from ear to ear. “Hey there, lovebirds. Chop, chop. Times a’wastin. We got a big day ahead of us.”
And so, Norah had to make do with the gentle brushing of Matt’s hand against hers as he reached for Paddy’s leash.
An hour later, Vanessa arrived to help set up the tables and the clinic’s laptop for the foster-to-adopt process. In record time, Norah, Matt, and Chris had taken the kennels from the shelter, set them up outside, and arranged them to encourage foot traffic. They’d also set up a round pen for potential pet parents to meet and spend time getting to know the dogs.
A food truck arrived to provide a breakfast and lunch menu. Chris put Christmas music on a speaker box to help soothe the excited dogs while he and Matt brushed and groomed them. Vanessa and Norah put up eye-catching signage. Paddy sat leashed nearby so he could be part of the action.
Norah liked how Matt set up the event for the good of everyone involved. Rather than immediate adoption, the families would basically be fostering the dogs until after the holidays. That would give humans and canines alike time to see if the fit was good.
The smell of breakfast tacos filled the air as a Toyota pickup pulled into the parking lot. It was Jean and Wally who’d volunteered to staff the welcome booth. They got out and came over,
Cotton trotting between them, tail wagging, nose in the air.
“Hello!” Jean waved wildly. “We’re ready to take over the welcome booth. Cotton’s all set to be the official emissary for The Pet Vet!”
Wally bent down and scooped Cotton into his arms. The little dog snuggled against his chest, just made for his cuddles. When the snuggles were over, Wally passed Cotton to Jean who leashed her and set her atop the welcome booth as they took their seats behind it.
Aww! Norah grinned. Jean and Wally were so in sync, so at ease with each other. It was the kind of relationship she found herself wanting more and more each day.
She searched for Matt and found him sneaking a treat to Paddy and her heart melted. She could have what she desired. It was right there in front of her. All she had to do was accept what Matt offered.
“Thanks for welcoming the guests,” Norah said to Jean and Wally. “You three are perfect for the job.”
“Anything for the cause that brought us together with the new love of our lives.” Wally grinned at Cotton. “She does love soaking up attention.”
“Make sure everyone understands she’s spoken for!” Jean said.
“Y’all have fun.” Norah waved and went to see how she could best help.
Matt strolled over.
“Where do you need me?” she asked.
“How about you do an intake on the guests, identify the best fit for their family, and signal to Chris to take the dog to the round pen, where I’ll supervise the interactions, and Vanessa can handle the adoption paperwork?”
“Perfect plan. I’m on it.” Norah gave him a little salute and went to welcome an arriving family.
As more people showed up, the energy shifted from laid-back to buzzing with energy. Children’s voices and the dogs grew more excited, barking and tail wagging their greetings.
“Hi there,” Norah greeted a couple with two young kids. “Tell me about your lovely family and what kind of dog you’re looking for.”
The mom held her daughter’s hand. The girl looked to be about four, and she stared wide-eyed at the kennels. “We’d like a breed that’s good with children.”
“We’ve got the perfect dog for you.” Norah took them over to a kennel where a calm black Labrador retriever lay watching the world with quiet eyes. “This is Ebony. She’s a bit older, but she’s very gentle and loves kids.”
The little girl knelt by the kennel.
Ebony got up, wagged her tail, and approached slowly.
“Mommy, I love her!” the little girl said.
“Would you like to spend some time with Ebony? Get to know her a little bit?” Norah asked.
“We would.” The dad nodded, along with his son, who was three or four years older than the little girl.
“That’s great. If you’ll step over to the round pen…” Norah pointed. “The vet tech will bring Ebony over for a visit.” She motioned for Chris.
After Chris took Ebony and the family to the round pen, Norah turned back to the next potential pet parent.
They worked like this for several hours, Jean and Wally welcoming guests and passing them to Norah. Norah did the evaluation and matching, Chris interceded between Norah and Matt, who staffed the round pen and then Vanessa, who handled the adoption.
By midday, nine dogs had found new homes, and cars packed the shelter parking lot. Families sat at the outdoor picnic tables Matt and Chris had set out, sharing food truck meals. Children laughed and played with dogs. Shelter volunteers showed up to spell Norah, Matt, Chris, and Vanessa for short breaks. Although not all at once so Norah never really got a chance to speak to Matt again about anything but dogs and adoptions.
Around one, Colleen and Dwight showed up with Georgia. They’d promised to stop by to show off their rescue success story.
“Colleen! Dwight! Georgia!” Norah rushed over to greet them. “My goodness, Colleen, you look like a new woman!”
The older woman walked without a cane, and a bright smile lit up her face as she extended her hand to take Norah’s. “Georgia’s the best medicine I could ask for. What a godsend she’s been. Thank you, Norah. Thank you for bringing her into our lives.”
“I’m so happy it worked out well for you both.” Smiling, Norah turned and spied Paddy. He was pacing the length of the fence as far as his tether allowed. Restless. Her fault. She hadn’t walked him that morning.
He eyed the crowd, whimpering.
Oops, he probably needed a potty break as well. Norah signaled to Chris, who trotted over.
“What’s up?” the earnest vet tech asked.
“Paddy seems agitated,” she said.
“Want me to walk him?”
“No, I’ll do it. If you can take over for me here, that would be fantastic. I won’t be gone long. Thirty minutes tops.”
“Sure, sure. Don’t worry about the time. You’ve already put in a full day’s work,” Chris said.
“So have you.”
“Yeah.” Chris grinned. “But I get paid. Take the rest of the day off if you want. I’ll make your excuses to Matt.”
“Oh no, I’ll be back.” But it would be nice to get away from the hubbub for a few minutes. “Thanks, Chris.”
“No, thank you, Norah. It’s been really nice having you around.”
“You’re so sweet.”
“I’m really not.” He grinned. “I’m honest.” He gave a wave and headed to the welcome booth to interface with the newest arrivals looking for a pet.
What a kind man. It spoke well of Matt that he hired good people like Chris and Vanessa. But of course he did. What else would she expect? Buoyed, Norah went to Paddy and unhooked him from his tether.
He tugged at the leash, pulling toward the crowd. He sniffed the air, nose twitching as he yanked harder, his eyes darting toward the crowd. His ears perked, and his tail whipped back and forth, faster and faster, as if on the verge of breaking free.
What was wrong? She’d never seen him like this.
“Easy, fella. We’re taking that long overdue walk,” she soothed, bending to pet him.
He seemed almost oblivious to her touch, continuing to lunge forward. A few people stepped back and gave him the side-eye. Maybe something was wrong. She glanced around for Matt and spotted him over by the vet clinic, talking to the driver of a delivery truck. She didn’t want to interrupt. Most likely, Paddy just needed a long walk and a bathroom break.
She finally wrangled Paddy into the SUV. He kept twisting around, staring at the crowd. Puzzled by his odd behavior, Norah looked too but saw nothing out of the ordinary. “Hang on, we’ll be at the beach in a jiffy.”
Norah buckled him into his doggy seat, slid behind the wheel, and took off. She turned on Christmas music, keeping the volume low, hoping the sound would help calm him, and glanced in the rearview mirror.
Paddy had his face pressed against the window, let out a soft sigh, and looked for all the world like the last kid picked for the sports team in grammar school.